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Karlštejn was founded by Charles IV in 1348 as a treasury for the imperial regalia and his collection of relics. Today with an average of 300,000 visitors a year, it is a prime choice for a short day trip from Prague. It is important to note that all excursions and independent drivers must park their vehicles at the foot of the hill, so be prepared for a 15-minute walk up to the castle entrance. As you walk up the hill, you are rewarded by the view spread out in front of you over beautiful rolling hills, the town and the river. It is a good place to visit even if you do not want to do the castle tour as you can walk around its exterior and capture the ambience of the place.
In this photo you can see the Castle model how the castle would look like. Lots of reconstruction works are going on at the moment and some parts of the Castle are not available for visitors.
BNSF 7921 leads a southbound vehicle train through Colorado Springs, CO.
I don't catch many SB autoracks, but I see my fair share of NB racks. Those NB vehicle trains typically run 1x1, so I was happy to see this one running with the power up front.
Heading into April 2016, traffic on the Joint Line has been down ~70% with the line seeing an average of 10-12 trains per day. But on this particular morning, I saw 5 trains in a 4-hour window making it feel a little like the "classic" Joint Line...
This heat wave that started in July has not ended yet. Temperatures will be averaging 35°C again this week with the humidity. This duck has the right idea for staying cool.
Have a wonderful week Flickr friends. Tina & the Puglets xo
I would like to thank all of you that have taken the time to view and comment on my photos, it is very much appreciated.
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Explored: Highest Position: 486
Prague Castle is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.
The Guinness Book of Records lists Prague Castle as the largest ancient castle in the world. It occupies an area of almost 70 000 m², at about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres wide.
The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. The Prague Castle includes Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers. Most of the castle areas are open to tourists.
Common Name: Pelicans
Scientific Name: Pelecanus
Type: Birds
Diet: Carnivores
Average life span in The Wild: 10 to 25 years
Size: Body, 5.8 ft; wingspan, 10 ft
Weight: 30 lbs
Size relative to a 6-ft man:
There are more than half a dozen species of pelicans, but all of them have the famous throat pouch for which the birds are best known. These large birds use their elastic pouches to catch fish—though different species use it in different ways.
Many pelicans fish by swimming in cooperative groups. They may form a line or a "U" shape and drive fish into shallow water by beating their wings on the surface. When fish congregate in the shallows, the pelicans simply scoop them up. The brown pelican, on the other hand, dives on fish (usually a type of herring called menhaden) from above and snares them in its bill. Pelicans do not store fish in their pouch, but simply use it to catch them and then tip it back to drain out water and swallow the fish immediately. The American white pelican can hold some 3 gallons of water in its bill. Young pelicans feed by sticking their bills into their parents' throats to retrieve food.
Pelicans are found on many of the world's coastlines and also along lakes and rivers. They are social birds and typically travel in flocks, often strung out in a line. They also breed in groups called colonies, which typically gather on islands.
These seabirds are threatened by chemical pesticides, such as DDT, which damaged the eggs of pelicans and many other species.
The Robot restaurant offers quite average food and drink, but is nevertheless one of the most bizarre things you will see in Tokyo, in fact, anywhere!
Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district, Japan
February, 2019
🇫🇷 Le lac de Braies (en italien : lago di Braies, en allemand : Pragser Wildsee) est un petit lac alpin situé dans le val de Braies (une vallée latérale du val Pusteria) à 1 496 m d'altitude, dans la municipalité de Braies, à environ 97 kilomètres de Bolzano.
Situé au pied de l’imposante paroi rocheuse de la Croda del Becco (2 810 m), le lac se trouve dans les Dolomites de Braies, dans le parc naturel Fanes - Sennes et Braies. Il a une superficie d'environ 31 hectares, avec une longueur de 1,2 km et une largeur de 300 à 400 mètres. C'est l'un des lacs les plus profonds de la province autonome de Bolzano, avec une profondeur maximale de 36 mètres et une profondeur moyenne de 17 mètres.
Sa création est due au barrage du Rio Braies, impliqué par un glissement de terrain.
#126
🇩🇪 Der Pragser Wildsee (italienisch: lago di Braies, deutsch: Pragser Wildsee) ist ein kleiner Alpensee im Pragser Tal (einem Seitental des Pustertals) auf 1496 m Höhe in der Gemeinde Prags, etwa 97 km von Bozen entfernt.
Der See liegt am Fuße der imposanten Felswand Croda del Becco (2.810 m) und befindet sich in den Pragser Dolomiten im Naturpark Fanes - Sennes und Pragser Wildnis. Er hat eine Fläche von etwa 31 Hektar, ist 1,2 km lang und 300 bis 400 m breit. Er ist einer der tiefsten Seen in der Autonomen Provinz Bozen mit einer maximalen Tiefe von 36 Metern und einer durchschnittlichen Tiefe von 17 Metern.
Seine Entstehung ist auf den Staudamm des Rio Braies zurückzuführen, der durch einen Erdrutsch verwickelt wurde.
🇮🇹 Il lago di Braies (in italiano lago di Braies, in tedesco Pragser Wildsee) è un piccolo lago alpino situato nella Val di Braies (una valle laterale della Val Pusteria) a 1.496 m di altitudine, nel comune di Braies, a circa 97 chilometri da Bolzano.
Situato ai piedi dell'imponente parete rocciosa della Croda del Becco (2.810 m), il lago si trova nelle Dolomiti di Braies, nel Parco Naturale Fanes - Sennes e Braies. Si estende su una superficie di circa 31 ettari, è lungo 1,2 km e largo 300-400 metri. È uno dei laghi più profondi della Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, con una profondità massima di 36 metri e una profondità media di 17 metri.
Si è formato in seguito allo sbarramento del Rio Braies da parte di una frana.
🇬🇧 Lake Braies (Italian: lago di Braies, German: Pragser Wildsee) is a small Alpine lake located in the Val de Braies (a side valley of the Val Pusteria) at an altitude of 1,496 m, in the municipality of Braies, about 97 kilometres from Bolzano.
Situated at the foot of the imposing rock face of the Croda del Becco (2,810 m), the lake is in the Braies Dolomites, in the Fanes - Sennes and Braies Natural Park. It covers an area of around 31 hectares, is 1.2 km long and 300-400 metres wide. It is one of the deepest lakes in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, with a maximum depth of 36 metres and an average depth of 17 metres.
It was created as a result of the damming of the Rio Braies by a landslide.
🇪🇸 El lago de Braies (en italiano: lago di Braies, en alemán: Pragser Wildsee) es un pequeño lago alpino situado en el Val de Braies (un valle lateral del Val Pusteria) a 1.496 m de altitud, en el municipio de Braies, a unos 97 kilómetros de Bolzano.
Situado al pie de la imponente pared rocosa de la Croda del Becco (2.810 m), el lago se encuentra en los Dolomitas de Braies, en el Parque Natural de Fanes - Sennes y Braies. Tiene una superficie de unas 31 hectáreas, 1,2 km de largo y 300-400 metros de ancho. Es uno de los lagos más profundos de la Provincia Autónoma de Bolzano, con una profundidad máxima de 36 metros y una profundidad media de 17 metros.
Se creó como consecuencia del represamiento del río Braies por un corrimiento de tierras.
I seem to have experienced a higher than average number of false dawns this year, but this was one that really did come to fruition. I made a number of shots on the rocky beach at Hannafore, focusing on Looe (or St George's) Island as a focal point for some stunning reflections. This image was not the most vivid in terms of the pink sunrise colours reflected in the water, yet I somehow prefer it to the more vibrant shots. Perhaps it's because it's calmer to look at and therefore easier on the eye. I deliberately placed the island in the centre of the frame, with the smaller clusters of rock playing a supporting role. The 50/50 split between sky and sea adds further balance, which was enhanced by the balancing of the exposure with a 0.6 hard grad. The rule of thirds does not work with this one.
España - Murcia - Real Casino - Salón de Baile
***
ENGLISH:
The Royal Casino of Murcia is one of the most emblematic buildings of the city of the same name, capital of the Region of Murcia (Spain). It is located in the center of it, on Calle Trapería, not far from the cathedral. The building, whose construction began in 1853, is a mixture of different artistic currents that coexisted in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in Spain and was declared a national historical-artistic monument in 1983, which is why it is currently considered an Asset of Cultural Interest, with the category of "monument".
The building is the headquarters of the institution of the same name, which functions as a private club. It is open to tourist visits and other events, it is the most visited civil building in the Region of Murcia and, counting only organized groups, an average of 150,000 people visit it annually, of which 25,000 are foreigners.
The building has been extensively restored between 2006 and 2009. On the occasion of the completion of the restoration works, King Juan Carlos I of Spain granted the Casino de Murcia the title of "Royal".
***
ESPAÑOL:
El Real Casino de Murcia es uno de los edificios más emblemáticos de la ciudad del mismo nombre, capital de la Región de Murcia (España). Se encuentra en el centro de la misma, en la calle Trapería, no lejos de la catedral. El edificio, cuya construcción comenzó en 1853, es una mezcla de distintas corrientes artísticas que coexistieron en la segunda mitad del siglo xix y principios del siglo xx en España y fue declarado monumento histórico-artístico nacional en 1983, por lo que en la actualidad está considerado Bien de Interés Cultural, con la categoría de «monumento».
El edificio es la sede de la institución del mismo nombre, que funciona como un club privado. Abierto a visitas turísticas y otros eventos, es el edificio civil más visitado de la Región de Murcia y, contando solamente los grupos organizados, lo visitan anualmente un promedio de 150 000 personas, de las que 25 000 son extranjeras.
El edificio ha sido profundamente restaurado entre los años 2006 y 2009. Con motivo de la finalización de las obras de restauración, el rey Juan Carlos I de España concedió al Casino de Murcia el título de Real.
Keeping it simple and casual today, you know how I do.
Backdrop: Pseudo - Gym Entrance Scene
Bag: REIGN. - Beach bum bag
Cup: Besom ~ Beauty Tumblers #5
//Wearing//
Hair: Stealthic - Aquaria
Top: TETRA - ruffle crop top
Wrists: Quirky&LovelyDisarray. - Rebel Bracelet
Rings: (Yummy) Minimalist Rings
Bottom: Blueberry - Rie - torn jeans
Shoes: REIGN. - Mini Slips
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian pronunciation: [katteˈdraːle di ˈsanta maˈriːa del ˈfjoːre]; in English "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers") is the main church of Florence, Italy. Il Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style with the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major attraction to tourists visiting Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.
The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence, whose archbishop is currently Giuseppe Betori.
Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of an earlier cathedral dedicated to Saint Reparata. The ancient structure, founded in the early 5th century and having undergone many repairs, was crumbling with age, according to the 14th-century Nuova Cronica of Giovanni Villani, and was no longer large enough to serve the growing population of the city. Other major Tuscan cities had undertaken ambitious reconstructions of their cathedrals during the Late Medieval period, such as Pisa and particularly Siena where the enormous proposed extensions were never completed.
Giotto's bell tower (campanile)
The new church was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and approved by city council in 1294. Di Cambio was also architect of the church of Santa Croce and the Palazzo Vecchio. He designed three wide naves ending under the octagonal dome, with the middle nave covering the area of Santa Reparata. The first stone was laid on September 9, 1296, by Cardinal Valeriana, the first papal legate ever sent to Florence. The building of this vast project was to last 140 years; Arnolfo's plan for the eastern end, although maintained in concept, was greatly expanded in size.
After Arnolfo died in 1310, work on the cathedral slowed for thirty years. When the relics of Saint Zenobius were discovered in 1330 in Santa Reparata, the project gained a new impetus. In 1331, the Arte della Lana, the guild of wool merchants, took over patronage for the construction of the cathedral and in 1334 appointed Giotto to oversee the work. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His major accomplishment was the building of the campanile. When Giotto died in 1337, Andrea Pisano continued the building until work was halted due to the Black Death in 1348.
In 1349, work resumed on the cathedral under a series of architects, starting with Francesco Talenti, who finished the campanile and enlarged the overall project to include the apse and the side chapels. In 1359, Talenti was succeeded by Giovanni di Lapo Ghini (1360–1369) who divided the center nave in four square bays. Other architects were Alberto Arnoldi, Giovanni d'Ambrogio, Neri di Fioravante and Andrea Orcagna. By 1375, the old church Santa Reparata was pulled down. The nave was finished by 1380, and by 1418, only the dome remained incomplete.
On 18 August 1418, the Arte della Lana announced an architectural design competition for erecting Neri's dome. The two main competitors were two master goldsmiths, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi, the latter of whom was supported by Cosimo de Medici. Ghiberti had been the winner of a competition for a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistery in 1401 and lifelong competition between the two remained sharp. Brunelleschi won and received the commission.
Ghiberti, appointed coadjutator, drew a salary equal to Brunelleschi's and, though neither was awarded the announced prize of 200 florins, was promised equal credit, although he spent most of his time on other projects. When Brunelleschi became ill, or feigned illness, the project was briefly in the hands of Ghiberti. But Ghiberti soon had to admit that the whole project was beyond him. In 1423, Brunelleschi was back in charge and took over sole responsibility.
Work started on the dome in 1420 and was completed in 1436. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436, (the first day of the year according to the Florentine calendar). It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden supporting frame. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. During the consecration in 1436, Guillaume Dufay's motet Nuper rosarum flores was performed. The structure of this motet was strongly influenced by the structure of the dome.
The decoration of the exterior of the cathedral, begun in the 14th century, was not completed until 1887, when the polychrome marble façade was completed with the design of Emilio De Fabris. The floor of the church was relaid in marble tiles in the 16th century.
The exterior walls are faced in alternate vertical and horizontal bands of polychrome marble from Carrara (white), Prato (green), Siena (red), Lavenza and a few other places. These marble bands had to repeat the already existing bands on the walls of the earlier adjacent baptistery the Battistero di San Giovanni and Giotto's Bell Tower. There are two side doors: the Doors of the Canonici (south side) and the Door of the Mandorla (north side) with sculptures by Nanni di Banco, Donatello, and Jacopo della Quercia. The six side windows, notable for their delicate tracery and ornaments, are separated by pilasters. Only the four windows closest to the transept admit light; the other two are merely ornamental. The clerestory windows are round, a common feature in Italian Gothic.
During its long history, this cathedral has been the seat of the Council of Florence (1439), heard the preachings of Girolamo Savonarola and witnessed the murder of Giuliano di Piero de' Medici on Sunday, 26 April 1478 (with Lorenzo Il Magnifico barely escaping death), in the Pazzi conspiracy.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Duomo,_Florence
Florence (/ˈflɒrəns/ FLOR-əns; Italian: Firenze [fiˈrɛntse] ( listen)) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the Metropolitan City of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 382,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1,520,000 in the metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.
The Historic Centre of Florence attracts 13 millions of tourists each year, and Euromonitor International ranked the city as the world's 89th most visited in 2012, with 1.8 million visitors. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it has been ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence is an important city in Italian fashion, being ranked in the top 51 fashion capitals of the world; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008, the city had the 17th highest average income in Italy.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
I love to go to movies. In a theatre with a crowd. The crowd is optional, but prefered...
I probably average one a week during the course of a year.
A FEW RANDOM THOUGHTS AND WORTHLESS OPINIONS...
I hate arriving late for a movie. If the show is about to start... be prepared to see something else or buy tickets for the next showing. "I'm very anal about this". The last time I walked into a darkened theatre was the final installment of "Star Wars". This was only because I had already seen it... I like to have my popcorn and be seated before the coming attractions... "coming attractions" ARE a part of the movie experience. Commercials, on the other hand, suck.
Jodie Foster is the only movie star who's films I go to just because she's in them.
Russell Crow is my favorite actor. I am still miffed that he did not win the Oscar for "A Beautiful Mind". A film which won "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best S. Actress", and "Best Writing". All for a movie in which every scene surrounds his character. losing to Denzel Washington(a very good performance) in "Training Day"(an ok film)... so wrong.
... that said. I do think Halle Berry was brilliant in "Monster's Ball". The last ten minutes alone were worthy of an Oscar nomination. She had very little dialogue during this part of the film. The emotions were conveyed in her facial expressions and body language. "Simply amazing"
"As Good As It Gets" is that rare movie where I leave the theatre wishing the characters would just keep going... the only film since then to bring out this response in me was "Friends With Money". A movie for which I have yet to lend to anyone who liked it.
The average speed of a sneeze is about 100 miles per hour, as noted by WebMD. Each sneeze packs a germy wallop, too, with each sneeze sending about 100,000 germs flying through the air.
The Best thing is that when my kids went to school they were taught to sneeze into the bend of the elbow - Not to cover with there hands.
I think this really works great - we almost never have colds anymore.
Water color paints splattered on a clear acrylic glass.
Happy Macro Monday !!!
This head house was built in 1804.
"Society Hill is a historic neighborhood in Center City Philadelphia, with a population of 6,215 as of the 2010 United States Census. Settled in the early 1680s, Society Hill is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Philadelphia. After urban decay developed between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an urban renewal program began in the 1950s, restoring the area and its many historic buildings. Society Hill has since become one of the most expensive neighborhoods with the highest average income and second-highest real estate values in Philadelphia. Society Hill's historic colonial architecture, along with planning and restoration efforts, led the American Planning Association to designate it, in 2008, as one of the great American neighborhoods and a good example of sustainable urban living.
The neighborhood hosts one of the largest concentrations of original 18th- and early 19th-century buildings in the United States. Society Hill is noted for its Franklin street lamps, brick sidewalks, cobblestone and Belgian block streets bordered by two- to four-story brick rowhouses in Federal and Georgian architecture, and public buildings in Greek Revival architecture such as the Merchants' Exchange Building and the Old Pine Street Church.
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City, and the 68th-largest city in the world. Since 1854, the city has been coextensive with Philadelphia County, the most populous county in Pennsylvania and the urban core of the Delaware Valley, the nation's seventh-largest and world's 68th-largest metropolitan region, with 6.245 million residents as of 2020. The city's population as of the 2020 census was 1,603,797, and over 56 million people live within 250 mi (400 km) of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker. The city served as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony during the British colonial era and went on to play a historic and vital role as the central meeting place for the nation's founding fathers whose plans and actions in Philadelphia ultimately inspired the American Revolution and the nation's independence. Philadelphia hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 following the Boston Tea Party, preserved the Liberty Bell, and hosted the Second Continental Congress during which the founders signed the Declaration of Independence, which historian Joseph Ellis has described as "the most potent and consequential words in American history". Once the Revolutionary War commenced, both the Battle of Germantown and the Siege of Fort Mifflin were fought within Philadelphia's city limits. The U.S. Constitution was later ratified in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Philadelphia remained the nation's largest city until 1790, when it was surpassed by New York City, and served as the nation's first capital from May 10, 1775, until December 12, 1776, and on four subsequent occasions during and following the American Revolution, including from 1790 to 1800 while the new national capital of Washington, D.C. was under construction.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Philadelphia emerged as a major national industrial center and railroad hub. The city’s blossoming industrial sector attracted European immigrants, predominantly from Germany and Ireland, the two largest reported ancestry groups in the city as of 2015. In the 20th century, immigrant waves from Italy and elsewhere in Southern Europe arrived. Following the end of the Civil War in 1865, Philadelphia became a leading destination for African Americans in the Great Migration. In the 20th century, Puerto Rican Americans moved to the city in large numbers. Between 1890 and 1950, Philadelphia's population doubled to 2.07 million. Philadelphia has since attracted immigrants from East and South Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
With 18 four-year universities and colleges, Philadelphia is one of the nation's leading centers for higher education and academic research. As of 2021, the Philadelphia metropolitan area was the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan economy with a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of US$479 billion. Philadelphia is the largest center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and the broader multi-state Delaware Valley region; the city is home to five Fortune 500 corporate headquarters as of 2022. The Philadelphia skyline, which includes several globally renowned commercial skyscrapers, is expanding, primarily with new residential high-rise condominiums. The city and the Delaware Valley are a biotechnology and venture capital hub; and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, owned by NASDAQ, is the nation's oldest stock exchange and a global leader in options trading. 30th Street Station, the city's primary rail station, is the third-busiest Amtrak hub in the nation, and the city's multimodal transport and logistics infrastructure, including Philadelphia International Airport, the PhilaPort seaport, freight rail infrastructure, roadway traffic capacity, and warehouse storage space, are all expanding.
Philadelphia is a national cultural hub, hosting more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city. Fairmount Park, when combined with adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the same watershed, is 2,052 acres (830 ha), representing one of the nation's largest contiguous urban parks and the 45th largest urban park in the world. The city is known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial and Revolution-era history; in 2016, it attracted 42 million domestic tourists who spent $6.8 billion, representing $11 billion in total economic impact to the city and surrounding Pennsylvania counties.
With five professional sports teams and a hugely loyal fan base, the city is often ranked as the nation's best city for professional sports fans. The city has a culturally and philanthropically active LGBTQ+ community. Philadelphia also has played an immensely influential historic and ongoing role in the development and evolution of American music, especially R&B, soul, and rock.
Philadelphia is a city of many firsts, including the nation's first library (1731), hospital (1751), medical school (1765), national capital (1774), university (by some accounts) (1779), stock exchange (1790), zoo (1874), and business school (1881). Philadelphia contains 67 National Historic Landmarks, including Independence Hall. From the city's 17th century founding through the present, Philadelphia has been the birthplace or home to an extensive number of prominent and influential Americans. In 2021, Time magazine named Philadelphia one of the world's greatest 100 places." - info from Wikipedia.
The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.
Now on Instagram.
Well, I beat the truck at least, but the improvidence... ugh, not so much.
Now I can almost guarantee that you’re thinking how the fuck can a foamer go up against a truck and also battle it out with improvidence all within 60 seconds? Well, I can give you both a short and a long answer. The short answer is straightforward: I am, quite frankly retarded (not actually, though, but also maybe because I’ve never been tested).
The long answer, Dan and Andy are locked in (I realise not everyone looking at train photos on Flickr is in their young 20’s like me, so a quick definition of locked in is the modern version of being "in the zone"—it means someone is intensely focused, fully committed, and performing at their absolute best) as any foamer could be, you may ask, how do these two fine gentlemen fare when locked in? Well, in a nutshell, it’ll consist of Dan cracking under the pressure of someone not going 30km/h (18.6411mph - see how stupid that sounds, use metric system yanks) over the speed limit whilst having tunnel vision to a cloud that is in another hemisphere, whilst Andy has an 80’s rock song blasting telling Dan to calm down whilst singing along to the song acting if this were not a high stakes life or death chase, and me? Downing a shooter shot whilst taking it all in. Ahhh, I love this hobby.
So back to the photo, after getting this BNSF local job coming off the big ass bridge over Lake Pend Oreille south of Sandpoint, it was all gas no breaks to the next shot. So, with the averaged locked-in experience completed, we’re now on the side of US Route 95, scrambling up the embankment, trying to get as high as we can. So good so far, yeah? But because we’re in a hurry and improvident me didn’t think changing to the nifty fifty prime would be a good idea, or in fact just keeping it on because that’s what I had attached for the shot prior. I’m left on top of the embankment, going shit, too tight. But that was really the least of my concerns when this massive truck paralleled the train, clipping the middle of the bogies on the locos. Luckily, it was going just quickly enough to give an obstructed view when the train was pushing the 70mm boundary. So you better believe we photoshopped him out; Truck 0 - Thomas 1, and the improvidence, well, Improvidence 1 - Thomas 0.
Win some, you lose some.
3152-3011 BNSF L NW8191 01 Westmond 1-5-25
From Wiki: The greater ani (Crotophaga major) is a bird in the cuckoo family. It is sometimes referred to as the black cuckoo. It is found through tropical South America south to northern Argentina. It feeds on large insects (such as beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars) and even spiders, lizards, frogs, fruits, berries and Euphorbia seeds.
The nest, built and lived in communally by two to five pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually 2–5 m (6.6–16.4 ft) high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky deep blue eggs in the nest and then share incubation and feeding. These breeding groups may also include non-breeding helpers. Nests have been found containing 3–10 eggs, with an incubation time of 11–12 days, with nestlings free to leave the nest after five days. They will be fed for several weeks if they choose not to leave.
In a longterm study, it was found that around 15% of females lay their eggs in the nest of another nesting group. This conspecific brood parasitism happens primarily when a female has lost her own clutch to predation. In regards to the nesting group, the first couple eggs will be rejected by other nest members when the mother of those specific egg leaves to forage. Egg rejection happens more often with larger groups, and one theory claims there is a balance within having more ani's to defend the nest from predation, and less ani's to minimize intraspecific competition. This leads to an average of two to three breeding pairs in one nest, with any greater amount being rare.
Sticking my lens under water I am always amazed just how much life there is in the average pond. Aside from the Toad, almost every speck you can see in this image is something swimming around.
Shot handheld with the Laowa 24mm probe lens at a small nature reserve in Bedfordshire..
The South Island takahē is the largest living member of the family Rallidae. Its overall length averages 63 cm (25 in) and its average weight is about 2.7 kg (6.0 lb) in males and 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) in females, ranging from 1.8–4.2 kg (4.0–9.3 lb).
in animal sanctuaries. Its standing height is around 50 cm (20 in). It is a stocky, powerful bird, with short strong legs and a massive bill which can deliver a painful bite to the unwary. Although a flightless bird, the takahē sometimes uses its reduced wings to help it clamber up slopes.
South Island takahē plumage, beaks, and legs show typical gallinule colours. Adult takahē plumage is silky, iridescent, and mostly dark-blue or navy-blue on the head, neck, and underside, peacock blue on the wings.
The back and inner wings are teal and green, becoming olive-green at the tail, which is white underneath. Takahe have a bright scarlet frontal shield and "carmine beaks marbled with shades of red".[18] Their scarlet legs were described as "crayfish-red" by one of the early rediscoverers.
Sexes are similar; the females are slightly smaller, and may display frayed tail feathers when nesting. Chicks are covered with jet-black fluffy down when hatched, and have very large brown legs, with a dark white-tipped bill. Immature takahe have a duller version of adult colouring, with a dark bill that turns red as they mature.
South Island takahē are noisy. They have a non-directional warning womph call, which was described by the rediscoverers of takahē as someone "whistling to them over a .303 cartridge case",[19] and a loud clowp call. The contact call is easily confused with that of the weka (Gallirallus australis), but is generally more resonant and deeper.
This image was taken at Zealandia, near Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand.
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Yellow-throated Miner
Scientific Name: Manorina flavigula
Description: The Yellow-throated Miner is a medium-sized honeyeater, grey above from the crown to the tail, pale grey below with light brown scalloping on the breast to the white rump, with a black face, distinctive yellow forehead and sides of throat. The bare eye skin, bill, legs and feet are also yellow. The wings and tail edges are washed yellow, and the tail tips are white. This species is noisy and sociable, and may be aggressive towards other birds.
Similar species: The Yellow-throated Miner is very similar to the Noisy Miner, M. melanocephala, but has a grey rather than black crown, a white rump, and a yellow forehead and throat. The rare and endangered Black-eared Miner, M. melanotis, is so similar that it is hard to distinguish in the field, but it is extremely restricted in its distribution, while the Yellow-throated Miner is widespread.
Distribution: The Yellow-throated Miner is found across mainland Australia, with the exception of the east coast south of central Queensland, Arnhemland and western Gulf of Carpentia, Cape York or the most arid parts of the interior.
Habitat: The Yellow-throated Miner is found in dry forests and woodlands, especially mallee. It is also seen in parks, gardens and farmlands.
Seasonal movements: Sedentary.
Feeding: The Yellow-throated Miner feeds on insects, nectar, berries and fruit, foraging at all levels of the canopy and on the ground. It usually forages in noisy flocks.
Breeding: The Yellow-faced Miner breeds communally and breeding pairs are often assisted by other members of the group. The losse, cup-shaped nest is built in a tree fork about 3 m to 6 m from the ground and is constructed from twigs and grasses, lined with wool, fur or feathers.
Calls: A piping 'pwee-pwee-pwe', similar to Noisy Miners; also harsh calls and chatter.
Minimum Size: 18cm
Maximum Size: 23cm
Average size: 21cm
Average weight: 31g
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2016
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
03-November-2023
It happens on average every 15 years, now around 20, that the south-westerly wind blows strong and prolonged into the Gulf of Trieste coming from northern Romagna.
The gulf is very windy, but there are also long periods of calm, but no wind, even the strong Bora, can create high waves, given that within this stretch of sea the maximum distances between the coasts are between 20 and 30km.
The only exception is provided by the wind that comes from the south-west in the wind rose and enters the only opening towards the rest of the Adriatic between the Grado peninsula (FVG, Italy) and tip/rt Savudrija (Istra, Hrvatska).
Through this passage the wind fishes on approximately 250km of sea surface and manages to generate waves of up to 3/4m (sea force 4/5 on the Douglas scale) which are decidedly important values for the area.
This is what happened on Friday 3 November 2023, to which a strong high tide was added, flooding the adjacent state road 14 (viale Miramare) in the Barcola section and where wood, branches, porphyry cubes, concrete blocks were dragged (dragged for meters and metres) algae, stones, sea gravel and seafood.
The road surface is approximately 6m above the sea level.
The photos were taken in reportage style, so point and shoot without paying too much attention to the composition and limiting the image quality to have a quick shot with very short times.
The purpose is not that of likes, obviously, but to document an event which for those who know these areas with little waves was very significant.
The precedents of the last 70 years are very few (1957, 1969, 1984 and 2003) and each time the seafront and the popular bathing establishments have been strengthened so, from the significant damage that occurred, it can be argued that it could have been the strongest storm ever or, at least, among the strongest for this area.
1990 Rover Montego 2.0 DSL hackney carriage taxi in July 1993.
This one lasted just 8 years before it was scrapped at 230,000 miles in 1998.
The Perkins diesel engine and the interior trim quality were above average for the era in my opinion, but the transmission, suspension and general reliability of this Montego were truly shocking.
This canid family member stands approximately two feet tall at the shoulder and varies in coloration from grey to tan, with an occasional reddish tint to its coat. Coyotes live an average of about 6 years, although one Yellowstone coyote lived to be more than 13 before she was killed and eaten by a cougar.
Coyotes of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) are among the largest in the United States; adults average thirty pounds with some weighing in at over forty pounds. In many ecosystems coyotes are the largest of the wild canids, filling a niche as an apex predator. This was also once true for the coyotes of Yellowstone National Park, where wolves and coyotes have a history of being sympatric. A federal predator-removal program established in 1872 was successful at removing the wolves within the Yellowstone ecosystem, thus allowing coyotes almost 70 years to thrive and adapt their behavior in a wolf free environment. During 1995-1996 a total of 31 wolves were translocated from Canada and reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. From 1996 to 1998, wolf aggression towards coyotes resulted in a 50% decline in coyote density. In the Lamar Valley alone, the coyote population was reduced from 86 animals to 36.
Sandwich, Kent, England.
The hobby is a small falcon, smaller than a kestrel. With their long wings and streamlined shape, they are perfectly evolved for catching dragonflies and small birds, such as house martins and swifts, on the wing, often transferring their quarry from talon to mouth in mid-air.
Length: 33-38cm
Wingspan: 87cm
Weight: 180-240g
Average lifespan: 5 years
Wildlife Trusts.
SN/NC: Medinilla Magnifica, Syn. Medinilla speciosa, Melastomataceae Family
Medinilla is a perennial epiphytic plant in the genus Medinilla of the family Melastomataceae. Medinilla is named for José de Medinilla y Pineda, who was governor of Mauritius (then known as the Marianne Islands) in 1820. Medinilla speciosa reaches on average a height of 45–60 centimetres (18–24 in). This evergreen shrub has woody branched stems and opposite leathery green leaves (up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long and 15 centimetres (5.9 in)wide, with prominent veins. The dainty small flowers are bright pink-colored and are produced in large panicles on pendant reddish stems. The flowering period extends from early Summer to Fall. When the blooming is finished for about a month remains a raceme of showy berries, pending that the plant reflowers. These rounded fruits are at first pink and purple-blue when ripe (hence to common name of Showy Asian Grapes.) Other common names: Rose Grape, Showy Medinilla, Malaysian Orchid, Chandelier Tree, Kapa-kapa.
The plant is utilized as a traditional medicine, by boiling, brewing, or consuming it directly. The fruits are consumed by pregnant women as health supplement and also used as diarrhea, mouth sores, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial treatment. This plant occurs naturally in Borneo, Java and Philippines. In Borneo, the plant can be found at the Kinabalu in the Malaysian part of the island. It's distribution include peninsular Malaysia (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Java, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
A medinila é uma planta arbustiva, de textura semi-lenhosa e florescimento ornamental. Seus ramos são quadrangulares, alados, frágeis, pouco ramificados e eretos. Eles crescem lentamente e podem atingir até 2 metros de altura. As folhas são sésseis, opostas, grandes, verde-escuras, cerosas, brilhantes e com nervuras claras e bem marcadas. As inflorescências pendentes, surgem na primavera e verão e são muito duráveis. Longas, elas chegam a 30 cm de comprimento, e apresentam brácteas e flores róseas dispostas em cachos, como se fossem uvas, o que lhe rendeu o nome popular "uva-rosa".
A medinila pode ser utilizada isolada ou em grupos. Ela é perfeita para compor conjuntos com outras plantas tropicais, como alpínias, helicônias, gengibres, formando suaves contrastes de texturas e cores. Por ser uma planta vistosa, mas ainda rara e exótica, causa impacto aos espectadores de sua beleza e tem sido utilizada em jardins contemporâneos e tropicais. Como seu crescimento é demasiado lento, ela necessita pouca manutenção e podas. Curiosamente, as medinilas são muitas vezes encontradas epífitas (sobre as árvores) nas Filipinas, seu local de origem. Seu nome é uma homenagem a José de Medinilla y Pineda, então Governador de Mauritius, (Anteriormente conhecida como Ilhas Marianas), em 1820.
Medinilla is een overblijvende epifytische plant van het geslacht Medinilla van de Melastomataceae-familie. Medinilla dankt zijn naam aan José de Medinilla y Pineda, die in 1820 gouverneur was van Mauritius (toen bekend als de Marianen). Medinilla speciosa bereikt een gemiddelde hoogte van 45-60 centimeter (18-24 inch). Deze groenblijvende struik heeft houtachtige vertakte stengels en tegenoverliggende leerachtige groene bladeren (tot 20 centimeter (7,9 inch) lang en 15 centimeter (5,9 inch) breed, met opvallende nerven. De kleine delicate bloemen zijn helderroze van kleur en zijn geproduceerd in grote pluimen op hangende roodachtige stengels. De bloeiperiode loopt van het begin van de zomer tot de herfst. Als de bloei ongeveer een maand is afgelopen, blijft er een tros van opzichtige bessen over, wachtend tot de plant weer bloeit. ronde vruchten zijn aanvankelijk roze en paarsblauw wanneer ze rijp zijn (vandaar de algemene naam van opzichtige Aziatische druiven.) Andere veel voorkomende namen: rozendruif, opzichtige medinilla, Maleisische orchidee, kroonluchterboom, kapa-kapa.De plant wordt gebruikt als traditionele geneeskunde, gekookt, vergist of direct geconsumeerd. De vruchten worden door zwangere vrouwen geconsumeerd als gezondheidssupplement en ook gebruikt als diarree, zweertjes in de mond, ontstekingsremmende, kankerbestrijdende en antibacteriële behandeling. Deze plant komt van nature voor op Borneo, Java en de Filippijnen. Op Borneo wordt de plant gevonden in Kinabalu op het Maleisische deel van het eiland. De distributie omvat het schiereiland Maleisië (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Java, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
Medinilla est une plante épiphyte vivace du genre Medinilla de la famille des Melastomataceae. Medinilla doit son nom à José de Medinilla y Pineda, qui était gouverneur de Maurice (alors connue sous le nom d'îles Marianne) en 1820. Medinilla speciosa atteint en moyenne une hauteur de 45 à 60 centimètres (18 à 24 pouces). Cet arbuste à feuilles persistantes a des tiges ligneuses ramifiées et des feuilles vertes coriaces opposées (jusqu'à 20 centimètres (7,9 po) de long et 15 centimètres (5,9 po) de large), avec des veines proéminentes. Les petites fleurs délicates sont de couleur rose vif et sont produites en grandes panicules sur des tiges rougeâtres pendantes. La période de floraison s'étend du début de l'été à l'automne. Lorsque la floraison est terminée pendant environ un mois, il reste une grappe de baies voyantes, en attendant que la plante refleurisse. Ces fruits arrondis sont d'abord roses et bleu-violet à maturité (D'où le nom commun de Showy Asian Grapes.) Autres noms communs: Rose Grape, Showy Medinilla, Orchidée malaisienne, Chandelier Tree, Kapa-kapa.La plante est utilisée comme médecine traditionnelle, en la faisant bouillir, en la brassant ou en la consommant directement. Les fruits sont consommés par les femmes enceintes comme complément de santé et également utilisés comme diarrhée, plaies buccales, traitement anti-inflammatoire, anticancéreux et antibactérien. Cette plante est naturellement présente à Bornéo, à Java et aux Philippines. À Bornéo, la plante se trouve au Kinabalu dans la partie malaisienne de l'île. Sa distribution comprend la Malaisie péninsulaire (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Java, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
Medinilla ist eine mehrjährige epiphytische Pflanze aus der Gattung Medinilla der Familie Melastomataceae. Medinilla ist nach José de Medinilla y Pineda benannt, der 1820 Gouverneur von Mauritius (damals als Marianne-Inseln bekannt) war. Medinilla speciosa erreicht im Durchschnitt eine Höhe von 45 bis 60 Zentimetern. Dieser immergrüne Strauch hat holzige, verzweigte Stängel und gegenüberliegende ledrige grüne Blätter (bis zu 20 Zentimeter lang und 15 Zentimeter breit) mit hervorstehenden Adern. Die zierlichen kleinen Blüten sind hellrosa gefärbt und werden in großen Rispen produziert an hängenden rötlichen Stielen. Die Blütezeit erstreckt sich vom Frühsommer bis zum Herbst. Wenn die Blüte etwa einen Monat lang beendet ist, bleibt eine Traube auffälliger Beeren übrig, bis die Pflanze wieder blüht. Diese abgerundeten Früchte sind im reifen Zustand zunächst rosa und lila-blau (daher zum gebräuchlichen Namen von auffälligen asiatischen Trauben.) Andere gebräuchliche Namen: Rosentraube, auffällige Medinilla, malaysische Orchidee, Kronleuchterbaum, Kapa-Kapa.Die Pflanze wird als traditionelle Medizin verwendet, indem sie gekocht, gebraut oder direkt verzehrt wird. Die Früchte werden von schwangeren Frauen als Nahrungsergänzungsmittel konsumiert und auch als Durchfall, Mundschmerzen, entzündungshemmende, krebsbekämpfende und antibakterielle Behandlung verwendet. Diese Pflanze kommt natürlich in Borneo, Java und den Philippinen vor. In Borneo befindet sich die Pflanze im Kinabalu im malaysischen Teil der Insel. Die Verbreitung umfasst die Halbinsel Malaysia (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Java, Sumatra und Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
Medinilla è una pianta epifita perenne nel genere Medinilla della famiglia Melastomataceae. Medinilla prende il nome da José de Medinilla y Pineda, che fu governatore delle Mauritius (allora conosciute come le Isole Marianne) nel 1820. Medinilla speciosa raggiunge in media un'altezza di 45–60 centimetri (18–24 in). Questo arbusto sempreverde ha steli ramificati legnosi e opposte foglie verdi coriacee (lunghe fino a 20 centimetri (7,9 pollici) e larghe 15 centimetri (5,9 pollici), con venature prominenti. I piccoli fiori delicati sono di colore rosa brillante e sono prodotti in grandi pannocchie su steli rossastri pendenti.Il periodo di fioritura si estende dall'inizio dell'estate all'autunno. Quando la fioritura è terminata per circa un mese rimane un racemo di bacche appariscenti, in attesa che la pianta si rifiorisca. Questi frutti arrotondati sono inizialmente rosa e viola-blu quando sono maturi (da qui il nome comune di Showy Asian Grapes.) Altri nomi comuni: Rose Grape, Showy Medinilla, Malaysian Orchid, Chandelier Tree, Kapa-kapa.La pianta viene utilizzata come medicina tradizionale, bollendola, fermentandola o consumandola direttamente. I frutti vengono consumati da donne in gravidanza come integratore per la salute e usati anche come diarrea, piaghe alla bocca, trattamento antinfiammatorio, antitumorale e antibatterico. Questa pianta si trova naturalmente in Borneo, Giava e Filippine. Nel Borneo, la pianta si trova nel Kinabalu nella parte malese dell'isola. La sua distribuzione include Malesia peninsulare (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Giava, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
Medinilla es una planta epifita perenne del género Medinilla de la familia Melastomataceae. Medinilla lleva el nombre de José de Medinilla y Pineda, quien fue gobernador de Mauricio (entonces conocido como las Islas Marianne) en 1820. Medinilla speciosa alcanza en promedio una altura de 45 a 60 centímetros (18 a 24 pulgadas). Este arbusto de hoja perenne tiene tallos leñosos ramificados y hojas verdes coriáceas opuestas (hasta 20 centímetros (7,9 pulgadas) de largo y 15 centímetros (5,9 pulgadas) de ancho, con venas prominentes. Las delicadas flores pequeñas son de color rosa brillante y se producen en grandes panículas. en los tallos colgantes de color rojizo. El período de floración se extiende desde principios del verano hasta el otoño. Cuando la floración termina durante aproximadamente un mes, sigue siendo un racimo de bayas vistosas, a la espera de que la planta vuelva a florecer. (de ahí el nombre común de Showy Asian Grapes.) Otros nombres comunes: Rose Grape, Showy Medinilla, Malaysian Orchid, Chandelier Tree, Kapa-kapa. La planta se utiliza como medicina tradicional, hirviéndola, preparándola o consumiéndola directamente. Las mujeres embarazadas consumen las frutas como suplemento de salud y también se usan como diarrea, llagas en la boca, antiinflamatorios, anticancerígenos y antibacterianos. Esta planta ocurre naturalmente en Borneo, Java y Filipinas. En Borneo, la planta se puede encontrar en Kinabalu, en la parte malasia de la isla. Su distribución incluye Malasia peninsular (Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor), Java, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Sumbawa, Lombok).
Medinilla هو نبات معمر معمر في جنس Medinilla من عائلة Melastomataceae. تم تسمية Medinilla على اسم José de Medinilla y Pineda، الذي كان حاكمًا لموريشيوس (المعروفة آنذاك باسم جزر ماريان) في عام 1820. يصل متوسط ارتفاع Medinilla speciosa إلى 45-60 سم (18-24 بوصة). تحتوي هذه الشجيرة دائمة الخضرة على سيقان خشبية متفرعة وأوراق خضراء جلدية متقابلة (يصل طولها إلى 20 سم (7.9 بوصة) وعرضها 15 سم (5.9 بوصة)، مع عروق بارزة. الزهور الصغيرة اللطيفة ذات لون وردي فاتح ويتم إنتاجها في عناقيد كبيرة. على سيقان ضاربة إلى الحمرة قلادة. تمتد فترة الإزهار من أوائل الصيف إلى الخريف. عند الانتهاء من الإزهار لمدة شهر تقريبًا تبقى مجموعة من التوت المبهرج، في انتظار إعادة إزهار النبات. هذه الثمار المستديرة تكون في البداية وردية وأرجواني-أزرق عندما تنضج (وبالتالي الاسم الشائع للعنب الآسيوي المبهرج.) الأسماء الشائعة الأخرى: العنب الوردي، ميدينيلا المبهرج، الأوركيد الماليزي، شجرة الثريا، كابا كابا.
يتم استخدام النبات كدواء تقليدي، وذلك عن طريق غليه أو تخميره أو تناوله مباشرة. تستهلك النساء الحوامل الثمار كمكمل صحي وتستخدم أيضًا كعلاج للإسهال وتقرحات الفم ومضادة للالتهابات ومضادة للسرطان وعلاج مضاد للبكتيريا. يتواجد هذا النبات بشكل طبيعي في بورنيو وجاوا والفلبين. في بورنيو، يمكن العثور على النبات في كينابالو في الجزء الماليزي من الجزيرة. يشمل توزيعها شبه جزيرة ماليزيا (بينانج، بيراك، باهانج، سيلانجور)، جافا، سومطرة، جزيرة سوندا الصغرى. (سومباوا في لومبوك).
メディニラは、メラストマ科メディニラ属の多年草着生植物です。メディニーリャの名前は、1820 年にモーリシャス (当時はマリアンヌ諸島として知られていた) の知事だったホセ・デ・メディニーリャ・イ・ピネダにちなんで命名されました。メディニーリャ・スペシオサの高さは平均 45 ～ 60 センチメートル (18 ～ 24 インチ) に達します。この常緑の低木は、木質で枝分かれした茎と、反対側の革のような緑色の葉 (長さ 20 センチメートル (7.9 インチ)、幅 15 センチメートル (5.9 インチ) までで、葉脈が目立つ) を持ちます。可憐な小さな花は明るいピンク色で、大きな円錐花序で咲きます。赤みを帯びた垂れ下がった茎に咲きます。開花期は初夏から秋まで続きます。開花が終わると約 1 か月間、華やかな果実の総状花序が残り、植物が再開花するまで続きます。これらの丸い果実は最初はピンク色で、熟すと紫がかった青になります。 （したがって、派手なアジアンブドウの一般名が付けられました。）他の一般名：ローズグレープ、派手なメディニラ、マレーシアの蘭、シャンデリアツリー、カパカパ。
この植物は、煮たり、煎じたり、直接消費したりして、伝統的な薬として利用されています。果実は妊婦が健康補助食品として摂取するほか、下痢、口内炎、抗炎症、抗がん、抗菌治療にも使用されます。この植物はボルネオ島、ジャワ島、フィリピンに自生しています。ボルネオ島では、この植物は島のマレーシア部分のキナバルで見られます。分布にはマレーシア半島（ペナン、ペラ、パハン、セランゴール）、ジャワ、スマトラ、小スンダ島が含まれます。 （スンバワ島、ロンボク島）。
Polemaetus bellicosus
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The Martial Eagle is the largest Eagle found in Africa and is the 5th heaviest (on average) Eagle in the world. Conservation Status-Threatened/Vulnerable
Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda, Africa
Thanks to our amazing Guides: John Muwaita (jonamez212@gmail.com) & Medi (1,000 Shades of Green)
A pair of very average BNSF units hauls a loaded grain train approaching Raymond, Minnesota on the BNSF Marshall Subdivision. Hawk Creek is the waterway in this scene where it passes underneath the railroad and between the tracks and Minnesota 23.
This train used the relatively new Willmar Bypass transferring easily from the Morris Subdivision to the Marshall Subdivision. I just wonder where this train originated.
This species averages 51 cm in length. Its long, pointed grey and black tail with a white median band is distinctive. A white wing patch is conspicuous in flight. The bill is black in male, pea-green in the female, is a widespread bird of Africa in the turaco family.
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the U.S.A. It’s approximately 370 feet in size and around 121 feet deep, but its rainbow waters are what really make it fascinating. Why is it so colorful? Single-celled, bacteria-like organisms cling to the edges, with different species congregating at different temperatures and forming the spring’s outer rainbow hues. It’s too hot for these tiny bacteria toward the center, which is where the sterile blue tones are found. The temperature averages around 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
How does it last the blink of an eye? You could measure it, if you really want to, but the truth is that we are so accustomed to blink our eyes that we are almost entirely unaware of the whole thing. Our brain compensates for it. So, in a way, we could say that a blink of an eye has an infinitesimal duration. The amazing thing I was thinking of while processing this fireflies shot - while recalling the actual experience - is that a whole, huge lot of things happen in the blink of an eye. Proteins in our cells are freshly synthetised; old, worn-out proteins are digested and reduced to aminoacids to be recycled; tiny yet powerful molecules of ATP continually bind to enzymes, allowing them to perform their "unlawful" duties at amazing rates; B lymphocytes produce and refine astronomical quantities and varieties of antibodies to fight some intruding pathogen; neurons alternately fire and rest in what we could envisage as, well, an astoundingly complex network of hyperfast fireflies. In the blink of an eye whole universes are born, and whole worlds are destroyed. We are so bound to our perception of time, to our own timescale, that it is utterly difficult for us to imagine what is happening on different timescales. In a mere hour a bacterial colony can proliferate enormously and, sadly, viruses can get huge hordes of self-copies at the expense of an unwittingly complicit cell.
There are further non-human timescales though, well beyond the microscopic word of cells or molecules. It is not by chance that for centuries people have been believing that the world had truly been created in seven days (well, actually six) and that everything - from geology to animals and plants - have remained basically unchanged since then. And that fossils were either remains of antediluvian creatures or tricks of the devil to test our faith and potentially lead us astray.
Well my friends, somehow this photo has reminded me that the world - both the micro- and the macroscopic - is something unutterably complex, almost beyond our grasp (almost being the key of everything). The quest for its understanding is a collective, neverending adventure. I often feel so small that even these fireflies, with their wonders, humble the feeling of being part of the species who believe to be master of the world. My mind is a minute firefly lost in a vast expanse of darkness. Yet I cannot give up. We cannot give up, since we "were not made to live [our] lives as brutes, / but to be followers of worth and knowledge" (Divine Comedy, Inferno, 26). Maybe our lives are the blink of an eye in the unutterable spatial and temporal vastness of the universe. But they are well worth living.
It has always been one of my unfulfilled dreams to photograph fireflies, which, sadly, are becoming a rarity in our countryside; the positive effects of the lockdown for the environment have probably favoured a blooming this year, so I decided to have a try. I followed the advices of a master of fireflies photography, the Bulgarian photographer Hristo Svinarov. However I will eagerly accept hints and positive criticism from everyone who will be so kind to offer it.
In my second fireflies session I have become a little more confident in my possibilities. I have tried to lower the ISO below 1000, and this is by itself a huge step towards better photos; moreover I have somehow dared more in composition. I am forced to use my Samyang 14 mm, which is the only fast-aperture lens I have in my gear, so I ventured nearer and nearer, until I was literally surrounded by dancing fireflies.
I have stacked 15 5-second photos with the Gimp. As the basic layer I used an image I have obtained by averaging the photos with John Paul ChaCha's Chasys Draw IES Artist: the fireflies themselves were almost obliterated but the landscape were effectively denoised, while the details were improved. In this photo I have processed separately the image which would have been the basic layer, just in the same way as any other photo - luminosity masks, and so on. When I was satisfied with the landscape I faced a new problem: it was just like I wanted it to be, so the 15 layers to be blended (those actually containing the fireflies) should not alter it - they should only add the precious fireflies. After a good bit of trial and error I developed my own workflow: a) duplicate one of the fireflies layers; b) extract LAB L component; c) in the bw image so obtained play with levels to force all the dark tones to black, then lower the light tones slider to better the fireflies signal; d) manually paint out the sky and the trees, and the other unwanted parts still visible (e.g. the water in the ditch); e) use this image showing only the fireflies as the layer mask of the original photo; f) set the blending mode to Addition: at this point the fireflies appear in the scene; g) duplicate 4 times the layer and then merge down the copies to get only one layer with the fireflies signal very naturally amplified; h) proceed in this way for all the (gasp) 15 shots; i) after all this, you can inspect the contribution of every layer to the result and, if needed, you can duplicate it and blend with Addition or Dodge to amplify it.
An RISI with a locomotive from just about every generation. Who knows which one gave up first and led to the 887 leading but I'm glad it happened. You never knew what was going to pop up on road trains back then.
Dettifoss is regarded as the most powerful waterfall in Europe (Average flow rate 193 m³/s (6816 cu ft/s); Fall height 44m (144ft))
This shot consists of 80 images, stacked using the Average blending mode :) TIme-frame is from sunset - blue hour and night.
Average Betty does for home n' cooking what punk did for rock n' roll: She cuts the length and cranks the volume! But you don't need a mohawk to enjoy Average Betty's culinary comedy.
After setting the pole up for this shot at Asgarby earlier today, I decided to retract the equipment and have a look down the line as the loco was taking longer than Id expected to get here. Low and behold no sooner had I got onto the crossing the barriers went down on Burton Road and 56090 screamed into view.
After whipping the pole back up to about 3 metres I realised my lens was set at quite a wide angle. However, being out of time I pressed the shutter and got this result. Apart from having to remove the crossing sign in the corner of the frame Im actually quite pleased with the end product and the wide angle finish gives a slightly different perspective to what I would normally go for
Details here nobodydoesitlikekaralee.com/2017/06/02/not-your-average-g...
I don't always do a fancy photos for my blog posts, check out my blog to catch cute outfits I post only on Nobody does it like Karalee. Also for everyone fancy photo I edit I do animated gifs on my blog to show the outfit as it would be seen inworld, I know heavily edited photos can be deceiving :P
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "Chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies, and is one of the most common Buteos in North America. Red-tailed Hawks can acclimate to all the biomes within their range. There are fourteen recognized subspecies, which vary in appearance and range. It is one of the largest members of the genus Buteo in North America, typically weighing from 1.5 to 3.5 pounds, and measuring 18–26 inches in length, with a wingspan from 43–57 inches. The Red-tailed Hawk displays sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males. The bird is sometimes referred to as the red-tail for short, when the meaning is clear in context.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_hawk
The Cornell Lab: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/id
Clarence Drive is a magnificent scenic coastal drive between the windswept hamlet of Rooi-Els and the naval town of Gordons Bay, which nestles in the north-eastern crook of False Bay in the shadow of the Hottentots Hollands mountains. This beautiful, coastal drive stretches between the two towns over 21 km, hugging the wild turquoise Cape coastline all the way. If you like passes with lots of corners, then this one is for you, as it contains 77 bends, curves and corners of which four are in excess of 150 degrees. The road is in a beautiful condition and attracts tourists, locals, bikers and cyclists in their droves. Overtaking is fairly limited and in general one can expect to average well below 60 kph.
Target: NGC1499 The California Nebula in the Hubble pallet
The California Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. Its name comes from its resemblance to the outline of the US State of California (in this composition on it's side). It is almost 2.5° long on the sky compared with the the moon at 1/2°. It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from Earth. While evaluating individual images that were stacked, I found I had captured a 200km diameter asteroid 13 Egeria. It's located to the left and down from the brightest star, above and between the close by 2 bright
Gear:
• Mount: ZWO AM5
• Main Cam: ZWO ASI294MM Pro @ gain 120 and -10C
• Guide Cam: ZWO ASI120MM Mini with Askar OAG
• Telescope: Askar 103APO w/.8x reducer - 560mm f/5.4
• Filter: Antlia EDGE Antlia SHO 4.5nm
Acquisition:
• 4 Panel Mosaic
• Roughly 4.5 hours integration each panel
• Sessions: 29, 30, and 31-Dec-2024
• Moon: n/a
• Location: Houston Backyard ~ Bortle 8/9
• Location: Austin Backyard ~ Bortle 8/9
Pixinsight Processing - SHO MOSAIC
• Assemble Panels
• Image Solver
• Mosaic by Coordinates
• Trim Mosaic Tile
• Photometric Mosaic (average)
• Crop, Auto ABE, Image Solver
• BXT, SXT
• Stars Only
• NB to RGB Stars Combination script with star stretch
• Starless
• Revert image back to having stars
• Stretch using HT_Stretch_Unlinked pixel math script
• LRGB Combination into SHO pallet
• Invert, SCNR to fix magenta stars
• Narrowband Normalization SHO
• NXT
• HT to set black point, Curves for color balance, Saturation
Photoshop Processing
• Starless
• Levels color balancing
• ACR highlights, black point, clarity, color mixer, noise reduction
• Stars
• Curves, Dust and Scratches to reduce stars
• Watermark
Captured, this spring, on our drive through Jasper National Park, in Alberta, Canada.
Size
◾Adult male (or boar) body weight average is 180 kilograms (400 pounds), but in better habitats, body weight can be 325 kilograms (716.5 pounds) or more. [...].
Appearance
◾In profile, snout rises sharply into broad "dished" face.
◾Ears rounded, noticeable but not prominent.
◾Pronounced shoulder hump. [...].
◾When standing on the level, a grizzly's body profile slopes backward from the high point at the front shoulders.
◾Colour varies from tawny brown to black.
Habitat
◾Their current range includes areas in or near the Rocky Mountains and in some boreal forest areas of north-central and north-western Alberta. [...].
◾Grizzly bears also require a mix of seasonal habitats in their annual home ranges in order to have sufficient access to the full range of primary food sources.
◾In the spring, dry, steep subalpine grasslands are the favoured habitat for grizzlies in the mountain regions, whereas moist stream banks and channels are preferred by grizzlies in the boreal forest. ( Alberta Environment and Parks)